Bond Girl Gemma Arterton Leads 007-Esque Series Releasing in Less Than a Month

A different role for Arterton

In Quantum of Solace, Arterton played Strawberry Fields, who is quickly seduced by Bond and later killed by his enemy. The character had limited scope, despite Arterton’s work in other films showing her range.

Secret Service instead puts Arterton at the center of the story. She plays Kate Henderson, an MI6 agent caught up in a conspiracy involving a politician poised to become Britain’s Prime Minister.

A high-stakes investigation

Henderson connects the politician to a Russian plan to infiltrate the government. She risks everything as she tries to expose the conspiracy and find the traitor. Like Bond, Kate uses undercover identities and investigates corruption with international consequences. The series was filmed mainly in London and Malta, and the pursuit takes her to the Finnish-Russian border.

Family raises the danger

Kate shares some familiar spy-story traits with Bond: she defies orders, trusts few people and travels abroad. But her circumstances make the story distinct from the films, where Bond generally works alone.

Kate has a husband and children who could be used against her, adding personal danger to the investigation. Secret Service is the first of three novels focused on the character, leaving room for more missions if the series succeeds.

Mixed reception and timely themes

Rotten Tomatoes scores for the series are 56% positive among critics and 63% among audiences. Some positive reviews call it “riveting,” and the cast’s performances have received praise.